Ecosystem Services Valuation of Dry Afromontane Forests Using Optical Remote Sensing in Tigray–northern Ethiopian Highlands

Abstract

Abstract Global forest area is projected to decline gradually, which may affect the existing ecosystem services (ESs) and the ecological and economic benefits of these services. We analyzed the ESs provision value of the Hugumburda State Forest (HSF) and the Southern Tigray–northern Ethiopian highlands, which was based on optical remote sensing, Ecosystem Services Provision Index (ESPI), and the revised ESs valuation coefficients under different scenarios and ecosystem services value function (ESVf). The forest coverage of HSF is anticipated to increase by 19.1 Km2 (3.8%) until 2030 from its earlier coverage of 88.6 Km2 in the year 2020. As a result, ecosystem services value (ESV) provisions are expected to increase, sustain, and improve the local community's well–being by 1.88 million US$ ha–1 year–1. We also found a significant relationship between ESV of forestland, shrub land, arable land, grassland, water body and their area expansion (p < 0.01). The ESPI showed a higher value in the forest & grassland areas (0.38), whereas lower in water bodies (–0.51). HSF provides higher regulating services than provisioning, supporting and cultural services. The combined use of optical remote sensing and ESPI is essential for developing a cost-effective ESs provision management framework regarding environmental and social benefits.